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Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Europe open: Shares up as investors mull UK GDP; Admiral surges

(Sharecast News) - European stocks were higher at the open on Thursday as investors digested UK GDP figures and the monthly China data dump.

The pan-regional Stoxx 600 index was up 0.38% at 506 in early deals.

Retail sales in China rose more than expected last month but industrial production was below forecasts, official data showed on Thursday.

Retail sales rose by 2.7% in July from a year ago, beating forecasts of 2.6% growth. However, industrial production rose by 5.1%, below estimates of 5.2%. Fixed asset investment fell 10.2% in the year to date, compared with a 10.1% decline in June.

Unemployment rose for the first time since February, hitting 5.2%, compared to 5% in June.

The UK economy grew 0.6% in the second quarter, down slightly on 0.7% growth in the first quarter but in line with expectations, according to data released on Thursday by the Office for National Statistics.

The figures also revealed that on a monthly basis, the economy showed no growth in June, as expected.

In equity news, Admiral shares surged 9% as the UK insurer reported a jump in half-year profits and paid a special dividend to shareholders.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com

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Important information: This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to one of Fidelity’s advisers or an authorised financial adviser of your choice. When you are thinking about investing in shares, it’s generally a good idea to consider holding them alongside other investments in a diversified portfolio of assets. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

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